Double-digit growth seen in cell-phone subscription
Darwin G. Amojelar Reporter
Manila Times
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Thursday projected that mobile-phone subscription would grow by double digits this year and next, fueled by strong overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) remittances and overall economic growth.
Edgardo Cabarios, director of the NTC’s Common Carrier and Authorization Division, told reporters that the number of mobile-phone subscribers this year is expected to reach 55 million, higher than last year’s 42.9 million.
For next year, Cabarios said, that number may rise to between 60 million and 65 million.
“We expect a steady growth in mobile-phone subscribers next year because of the rising OFW remittances and improving economy,” Cabarios told reporters.
At end-September, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which cornered about 57 percent of the cellular market, registered a subscriber base of 28.3 million. Its unit Smart Communications Inc. recorded net additions of about 2.7 million subscribers, while its Talk ‘N Text brand under unit Pilipino Telephone Co. added about 1.4 million to end the first nine months with 19.9 million and 8.3 million subscribers, respectively.
Globe Telecom Inc. and Digital Telecommunications Phils. Inc. registered 19.2 million and more than 3 million subscribers, respectively.
The increase in subscribers means higher revenue for these telecom companies.
At end-September, the country’s three largest telcos posted combined revenues of P153.77 billion. Of this amount, PLDT generated P100.5 billion; Globe, P47.2 billion and Digitel, P6.07 billion.
An IDC forecast showed that the country’s telecom market remains upbeat, with an 11-percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenues seen over the next five years.
The international research firm attributed the growth to the data services segment, boosted by strong uptake of text messaging and Internet connectivity, as well as price pressures and data communication substitutions on voice services.
IDC estimated that the industry grew by 6 percent last year, generating $2.956 billion in revenues.
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